US GP: Four Ex-Premier Class Bikes to Run at COTA in First MotoGP Showcase in F1
Pedrosa, Bulega, Dovizioso and Savadori Will Lap Austin Before Free Practice 3 on Saturday as MotoGP Takes Its Sound and Speed to a Crowd of More Than 400,000
MotoGP will bring four of the world’s fastest motorcycles to the Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix 2026 at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA). It will be the first time MotoGP has taken part in a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend.
The high-speed demonstration is set for Saturday, October 24, from 11:40am to 12:00pm CDT, just before Free Practice 3. More than 400,000 fans are expected across the event.
The four premier-class machines will be ridden by:
Dani Pedrosa (KTM): MotoGP Hall of Fame inductee and winner of three Grand Prix World Championships in the 125cc and 250cc classes.
Nicolo Bulega (Ducati): The current WorldSBK World Champion, who will move up to MotoGP in 2027 with Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha): MotoGP test rider.
Lorenzo Savadori (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team): MotoGP test rider.
They will complete high-speed laps of the Austin circuit, giving Formula 1 fans a close look at the speed and sound of the world’s top motorcycles.
MotoGP bikes can exceed 225mph, about 362 km/h, and reach lean angles of more than 60 degrees. They can also produce more than 130 decibels of noise.
PEDROSA: “THE SPEED, THE SOUND AND THE PERFORMANCE”
Pedrosa said riding at COTA is always a highlight. “It’s always special to ride a MotoGP bike at COTA, one of the most iconic circuits in the world,” he said.
He called the Formula 1 event a rare chance to reach new fans. “The United States Grand Prix is a truly unique and special event on the F1 calendar, attracting an incredible crowd and providing a great opportunity to give fans a taste of what makes MotoGP so exciting. The speed, the sound and the performance of these bikes is something you have to experience in person, and I’m looking forward to sharing that with everyone in Austin.”
BULEGA: A PREVIEW OF HIS 2027 RETURN
Bulega said the showcase puts MotoGP in front of a very large audience. “This is a fantastic opportunity to put MotoGP in front of one of the biggest crowds in world motorsport. The atmosphere at COTA is always incredible, and to ride a MotoGP bike in front of so many fans will be a special experience,” he said.
He added that he hopes the laps show what the sport offers. “MotoGP bikes are unlike anything else, and hopefully the laps will show just how spectacular our sport is. We’re looking forward to putting on a great show and giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect when I return with MotoGP to Austin in 2027.”
FAN ZONE ACTIVATION AND TEAMS ON SITE
On-track action is only part of the plan. MotoGP will host a dedicated fan activation in the circuit Fan Zone throughout the weekend, with the four motorcycles on display and chances for fans to get closer to the sport. MotoGP teams and riders will be on site from Thursday through Sunday.
ON THE SAME WEEKEND AS THE AUSTRALIAN GP
The showcase falls on the same weekend as the MotoGP World Championship’s own Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, the final MotoGP event at that circuit. Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by two points in the title race going into that round.
For Formula 1, the United States Grand Prix is the first of the six rounds left in a season in which Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship by 102 points, after Max Verstappen’s win in Singapore.
The demonstration is also part of MotoGP’s build-up to its return to COTA. The 2027 Grand Prix of the United States will take place there from April 23-25, 2027, as the championship continues to build momentum in the American market.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
